There it stands, deep in the heart of Fizzy Bubbles. The majestic Mt. Zephyria reaches up into the heavens, peaking at a total of 12,000 feet. Lush forests and winding creeks line the veins of the mountain all the way up to a magnificent crown of clouds. In ancient times, it was referred to as “The Palace of the Gods” due to the belief that eternal wreath of clouds housed a deity at its summit. These tribes that settled on the foothills of Mt. Zephyria were rich in tradition and culture, as they lived with reverence to the nature that surrounded them in order to appease the gods above. Nowadays this region is known as the Cloud Garden; an ecosystem that is equally beautiful and unforgiving.

With the civilizations of antiquity long gone but not forgotten, a new age of modernity has settled. At the foot of the mountain, a small village marks the entrance to the Cloud Garden. Galea Town is positioned right on the great Fizzy Lake with a small harbor where adventurers and tourists may enter. The people in this village have a culture that is a fusion of both modern technology and ancient tradition. It is supplied by the Starline River which feeds into Fizzy Lake from the Starline Falls further up the mountain. The majority of the villagers live in Galea Town, but several ranger cabins and shrines are scattered up the mountainside.

Atop the summit of the Cloud Garden rests the great Cloud Colosseum; an ancient shrine that has been transformed into an arena for elite trainers who have earned the right of entry. Tournaments are held regularly, where the people of the village dedicate their battles to the gods of old. There are three tiers of areas in which travelers are permitted to visit in the Cloud Garden. In order to gain entry to the next tier up, one must clear a number of challenges that scatter the mountain.

The Galea Foothills:
The Galea Foothills covers the greatest expanse of land in the Cloud Garden. Beginning with Galea Town, adventurers may follow along the Starline River up across the plains and into the mountain. Other areas include the Starline River, the Rose Garden, Galea Plains, Cloud Forest, and the Stone Shrine. The boundary of the foothills lies at the Starline Falls, a giant waterfall that cascades down from the incline above.

Starline River: A calm river that flows down from the mountain and passes by the village on its way to the lake. The water is crystal clear in the shallower areas, darker in the deeper center. The river makes a great place for picnics and for those who enjoy fishing. (Please reply in skyblue)

Rose Garden: A colorful garden that has been beautifully maintained. Roses among maybe other kinds of flowers of all sorts of colors and shapes make this scenic area a must-see for those who have come to sightsee. The fragrant aroma has made this garden the home for a number of species of grass and bug type Pokemon. The garden is home to one of the trial leaders for the Galea Foothills. (Please reply in springgreen)

Galea Plains: A vast stretch of rolling grassy hills. There are a few scattered trees that supply shade as a gentle breeze blows from the mountain. There is a ranger’s cabin that allows travelers to rest up their Pokemon and prepare for the hike that is yet to come. A wide variety of Pokemon inhabit this area. (Please reply in lightgreen)

Oran Orchard: A berry farm located to the east of the Cloud Forest that is run by a small family. The farm is an orchard that is filled with berry trees of every variety. The family likes to enlist travelers to help with various tasks in exchange for berry or apricorn rewards. They also provide a service to convert apricorns into Pokeballs. (Please reply in orange)

Cloud Forest: A dense forest that surrounds the base of the mountain. The trees are home to many kinds of bug, grass, and bird Pokemon as well as many others. A woodcutter’s cabin is home to one of the trial leaders for the Galea Foothills. A Mossy Rock can be found deep within the forest. (Please reply in limegreen)

Stone Shrine: A small shrine made out of stone. It is located next to the base of the Starline Falls on a small plateau against the mountainside with jagged rock formations. Many rock and ground type Pokemon can be found on the small hiking trails around the shrine. The shrine is home to one of the trial leaders for the Galea Foothills. (Please reply in lightslategray)

Cosmic Cavern: Behind the Stone Shrine is the entrance to a gigantic cavern system below the mountain. The Stone Shrine’s true altar lies deep inside and is said to be the home of an ancient god. Many rock type Pokemon can be found in here as well as Pokemon that see in the dark. The use of Flash is required. (Please reply in lightslategray)

The Starline Falls:
The Starline Falls are a very important landmark in Galean culture. In the past, they represented a pathway to the heavens above, as the gods would bestow the gift of serene mountain water to the people below. In order to gain access to this area, one must clear the trials below in the Galea Foothills and clear the purification ceremony. HM Waterfall is necessary to ascend the falls as well. Once at the top of the falls, adventurers gain access to areas like the Fountain Garden, the Burnt Forest, the great Starline Waterfall, and the Cloud Shrine. Above the Cloud Shrine lies the Celestial Road; a layer of clouds that perpetually encircles Mt. Zephyria’s peak.

Starline Waterfall: A large pool of water that flows over a cliff to the Starline River down below. Further upstream is a meandering river that features a fast-flowing current, several rapids and smaller waterfall overflows from the mountain above. This area is home to hardier water Pokemon, and there is even legend of a rare dragon Pokemon that might live under the water. (Please reply in aqua)

Fountain Garden: Stemming off from the Starline Waterfall, the Fountain Garden features a series of small pools and gentler waterfalls. Lush greenery adds a picturesque finish to the area, making it an excellent tourist attraction. The garden is also home to one of two trial leaders in the Starline Falls area. (Please reply in deepskyblue)

Makini Sanctuary: Just beyond the Fountain Garden lies the Makini Sanctuary, a lush paradise for endangered Pokemon. Tucked away behind the trees is a peaceful clearing with a calm spring that provides pristine water for the species that live here. In order to rehabilitate the endangered species of Pokemon, capture here is strictly forbidden. A ranger’s cabin allows travelers to rest their Pokemon here and provides a watchful eye. (Please reply in lightseagreen)

Burnt Forest: Another dense area of woods. Many of the trees appear scorched from a forest fire in the past and have yet to recover. The trees that aren’t dead are quite imposing and dark, leaving a foreboding atmosphere. Fire and dark Pokemon can be found here and have become quite territorial in this secluded area. (Please reply in sienna)

Snowfall Steppe: North of the Burnt Forest across a small river is an open plains covered in snow. A few clusters of pine trees are scattered through the area. This area is home to a number of icy type Pokemon as well as other Pokemon that can handle cold temperatures. Due to the mystical presence of a large Ice Rock, temperatures remain cold all year long. (Please reply in white)

Delibird Ridge: Overlooking the Snowfall Steppe is an icy mountain pass known as Delibird Ridge. It is home to flocks of its namesake Pokemon as well as many other ice and rock types. A number of icy caves can be found and explored in the mountainside as well. Navigation in this area is treacherous and the use of Rock Climb may be required in some parts. (Please reply in white)

Cloud Shrine: Further up the mountain sits an old shrine. A thick layer of clouds that surrounds the mountain like a ring forms a low ceiling over the area. This area is home to many flying Pokemon that are capable of withstanding the strong winds as well as one of the two trial leaders in the Starline Falls area. (Please reply in lightblue)

Zephyria Peak:
Traversing up the Celestial Road takes one through the clouds and up into Mt. Zephyria’s peak. Here one can find the Cloud Colosseum, but access is limited to those who have cleared the final trial. This area of the Cloud Garden features some of the most breathtaking views as well as some of the most unforgiving terrain. Areas to explore include the Celestial Road, the Garden of Memories, Moonfall Plateau, and the Shrine of Legends.

Celestial Road: A rocky path that leads up the mountain behind the Cloud Shrine. Swirling winds and thick clouds make travel here treacherous. Many rock, ice, flying, and dragon type Pokemon can be found here. However, adventurers need to be on their guard, because the Pokemon here are tough and battle-tested. (Please reply in silver)

Garden of Memories: An old garden that is overrun with dark vines. This garden was once used as an ancient burial ground and it’s said that those who camp here have dreams of those who have died on the mountain in the past. This area is home to ghost, dark, and psychic type Pokemon. (Please reply in lightslateblue)

Moonfall Plateau: A large rock plateau near the peak of the mountain. It is located in the eye of the winds that swirl around the mountain, leaving a calm atmosphere in the air. This is the best place for stargazing at night, and some stars can even be seen during the day. It is said that some Pokemon here are visitors from outer space. A ranger’s cabin allows travelers to rest their Pokemon. (Please reply in gold)

Shrine of Legends: A large shrine sits below the steps of the Cloud Colosseum in a peaceful clearing. A grassy plains and several rock formations outline the area. The shrine is home to the final trial leader that allows adventurers access to the Colosseum. Be prepared for a challenge. (Please reply in plum)

Cloud Colosseum (Special Area): An ancient stone amphitheater that rests atop the summit of Mt. Zephyria. The original structure has been kept intact for hundreds of years, but has since been supported with modern amenities. The center of the arena where the events are held is sunken into the ground, providing a natural bowl of seating for the audience. Tournaments are held several times a year to signify the changing of the seasons and are held in reverence to the old gods in which the shrine was originally intended to worship. Those looking to participate in the tournament must have cleared the five trial challenges of the Cloud Garden first. (Please reply in steelblue)

Cloud Garden Rules:
1. Please respond in the corresponding color of the area in which you wish to travel.
2. Up to 6 Pokemon may be designated as the active party on one’s individual team. Pokemon on the updatee’s active team may be revealed at their own discretion. Pokemon may be switched out at a PC in any Rangers’ Cabin. If 6 Pokemon have already been revealed in an adventure and a new capture is made, updatees will be allowed to select which Pokemon will be sent to the box.
3. In order to access the Starline Falls area, one must clear 1 Cloud Garden trial. In order to access the Zephyria Peak area, one must have cleared 3 Cloud Garden trials. In order to access the Cloud Colosseum, one must have cleared five Cloud Garden trial challenges.
4. At any resting point in one’s adventure, one may request to move on to a new area, as long as they have clearance. It will take about 1 to 2 updates to change locations. However, the more frequently one changes locations, the more likely one is to be interrupted while traveling. Please notify your ZU of your intentions before doing so.
5. At any resting point in one’s adventure, one may switch between pursuing the trial challenges and free exploration. Please notify your ZU of your intentions before doing so.
6. When participating in the trial challenges, a specific number of Pokemon will be allowed for the duration of each trial.
7. Several rangers’ cabins are located throughout various Cloud Garden areas. Adventurers may elect to stay the night in these cabins, heal injured Pokemon, and switch Pokemon in their active party from a PC. Please notify your ZU of your intentions before doing so.

Cloud Colosseum Rules:
1. Tournaments are held twice a year, in the fall and spring.
2. There is no limit to the number of contestants that apply to participate.
3. The Preliminary Round of the tournament will take the top eight participants into the second round, where the remaining participants will be seeded into a head-to-head bracket.
4. The final participant remaining will be crowned Cloud Garden Champion.

Important Characters of the Cloud Garden:• Samuel Flint: Trial Captain of the Cloud Forest. A burly man in his late 30’s who lives as a woodcutter in his cabin in the forest. He is well-built and has a large frame with buzzed red hair, a thick red beard, and usually sports a stereotypical red plaid flannel shirt. He is often seen with his axe that he carries with him. His partnered Pokemon is his Scyther.
• Ishi Madoka: Trial Captain of the Stone Shrine. Madoka is a 16 year old priestess who inherited the role from her grandmother. She has a small frame with long black hair. She typically wears a traditional white and red hakama that is common to shrine maidens. Her partnered Pokemon is her Carbink.
• Primrose Nightingale: Trial Captain and heiress of the Rose Garden estate. Primrose is a 12 year old girl with silky sandy-blonde hair and often wears a long white sundress and matching wide-brimmed sun hat befitting of an elegant young lady. She is often found daydreaming in the central gazebo of the garden. Her partnered Pokemon is her Musharna.
• Marina Swift: Trial Captain of the Fountain Garden. A young woman in her mid-20’s with shoulder-length dark blue hair that is often pulled into a ponytail. She often wears a long-sleeved dry suit under her clothes as she is always prepared to dive into the various bodies of water of the Cloud Garden; all of which she is quite familiar. Her partnered Pokemon is her Gyarados.
• Jet Avalon: Trial Captain of the Cloud Shrine. A young man in his mid-20’s who doubles as both caretaker of the Cloud Shrine and a park ranger of the Cloud Garden. He has messy brown hair which is always windblown from flying around the mountain at high altitudes. He has a serious demeanor and sports a pair of flight goggles on his head. His partnered Pokemon is his Staraptor.
• Athena Luna: Trial Captain of the Shrine of Legends. A young 19 year old woman who is the prodigy of the oldest families in Galean history. She wears an athletic hoodie and tattered jeans. She has an energetic personality that has adapted to being active in high altitudes. Her partnered Pokemon is her Clefable.

Minor Characters of the Cloud Garden:• Cloud Garden Park Rangers: There are several park rangers that are stationed throughout the Cloud Garden. Their cabins can be found in the Galea Plains, Makini Sanctuary, and Moonfall Plateau and are open to travelers who wish to rest their Pokemon. The rangers’ primary jobs are to protect the ecosystem of the Cloud Garden and defend the area from poachers.
• Petunia: A gardener who works in the Rose Garden. She is a young woman with chestnut-colored hair tied up with a bandana and wears an apron over her clothes. She has a gentle personality and is always willing to help others in the garden. She spends most of her time in Lilligant’s domain in the northeast.
• Poppy: A gardener who works in the Rose Garden. He is an older gentleman with a small frame and white whiskers on his face. He wears a green beret on his head and an apron over his clothes. Poppy is young at heart and doesn’t let his age affect his ability to keep up with the latest trends. He spends most of his time in Roserade’s domain in the northwest.
• Persimmon: A gardener who works in the Rose Garden. He is a lanky 30 year old man with disheveled dark green hair. He wears a pair of thick glasses on his face and a dirty white lab coat over his clothes. Despite his scatterbrained nature, he is the resident botanist of the garden and is often flipping back and forth between his research subjects. He spends most of his time in Tsareena’s domain in the southeast.
• Peony: A gardener who works in the Rose Garden. She is a fashionable teenage girl with pink-dyed hair that is tied into a ponytail on the side of her head. She often wears a white blouse and black skirt with a pink sweatshirt tied around her waist and a frilly apron to keep her clothes clean. She loves to accessorize and often acts like an idol as a façade to hide her spoiled nature. She spends most of her time in Bellossom’s domain in the southwest.
• The Applewood Family: A small family that runs the berry farm at Oran Orchard. They are a quaint, generous family that are always willing to welcome strangers to their farm. They give berry rewards in exchange for the help of travelers with various tasks.

Various Cloud Garden Services:• Oran Orchard: The Applewood family will convert Apricorns into their corresponding Johto Pokeballs. Simply leave your Apricorns behind and claim your new Pokeballs at your convenience!
• Move Tutors: Various Trail Captains now offer training services to train up your Pokemon for a tough road or battle ahead. Only one Pokemon may take a course at a time.

Objective: A 3 vs 3 competition where one Pokemon attempts to saw through a fallen log while the other two may either defend the Cutter or attack the opposing team’s Cutter. First team to successfully cut through the log wins.

Rules: Issue commands to your Cutter to saw through the log. Alternating attacks will hone your technique while repeating attacks will dull your technique. The two battling Pokemon may attack the opposing team’s Cutter, or defend your Cutter from the opposing team’s Battlers. Cutters may not battle while they are cutting. Once per update you are permitted to shift roles between Cutter and Battler at the beginning of your turn.

Competition Field Description: In a small clearing in the forest, a large fallen tree rests on the ground. It has already had the roots and the branches sawed off, forming a perfectly cylindrical log. Cutters must cut on opposing ends of the log, about 20 feet apart. A dense forest of trees surrounds the area.

Known Pokemon & Tendencies:

Scyther: Preferred Cutter

Lurantis: Leans toward Defense

Kabutops: Leans toward Attack

Trial 2: Ishi Madoka – Stone Shrine – Capture the Flag

Objective: A 4 vs 4 game of Capture the Flag. There are two game options, daytime and nighttime. For both game modes, the objective is to steal the opponent’s flag from their Flag-Keeper.

Rules: Designate one Pokemon to guard your flag as the Flag-Keeper. They are immobile but may still defend themselves with attacks. The other three Pokemon may take any strategy in attempt to steal the other team’s flag. There are various landmarks in the game field in which Pokemon are allowed to hide behind. Once a flag is stolen, the game is over. If the game exceeds eight turns, the result is a loss.

Competition Field Description: The challenger’s home base sits under a Torii Gate at the shrine’s entrance while Madoka’s base is directly in front of the shrine. A long, flat Sandou path connects the two bases and is lined with eight large stone lanterns, four on each side. Two stone platforms for stone Lion-Dog statues on either side of Madoka’s base feature where the Lycanroc sit. A cluster of pine trees stand to the west of the Sandou path while a pile of boulders and jagged rock formations sit to the east of the Sandou.

Known Pokemon & Tendencies:

Carbink: Flag-Keeper, uses defensive moves

Larvitar: Aggressive, often charges forward recklessly

Solrock(Day)/Lunatone(Night): Hovers above the field, attacks things in sunlight/moonlight. Chance to eclipse the sun/moon, darkening field of play

Objective: With the power of Primrose’s Musharna, both trial captain and competitor are brought into a shared dream world. Here you will compete over a series of fairy tale-themed challenges selected at random and the winner of two out of three will be crowned victor.

Storybook Challenges, Rules, and Used Pokemon:

Sleeping Beauty (Komala): Princess Komala has been cursed to an eternal slumber at the top of a dark castle tower. The goal is to wake her from her slumber, but proceed with caution!Setting: A circular stone room at the top of a tower. Komala sleeps on a luxurious bed near the far wall. The room is dimly lit by candles and moonlight from a small window.

Beauty and the Beast (Floette): Floette has been kidnapped by a beast-like Granbull in his castle. Soothe the beast and cease his rampage within 5 turns before all of Floette’s flower petals fall. Sometimes brute force isn’t the best way to calm a beast.Setting: A grand, extravagant ballroom in the middle of the castle. A beautiful chandelier lights up the room from above while Granbull lays in wait in the middle. Floette is kept in a glass case off to the side.

Cinderella (Pumpkaboo): The clock is about to strike midnight and Lilligant needs to flee the ball before her dress turns back into rags. Race against the giant Pumpkaboo carriage to see who gets the honor of being her ride out of there! Watch out as Pumpkaboo will use any move in its arsenal to make sure it wins.Setting: A wide dirt road in the countryside while the mansion where the ball is taking place lies further ahead. The road is lined with neatly-maintained hedges, trees, and other shrubbery. The mansion is about three rounds of action away.

Alice in Wonderland (Gothorita): The White Bunnelby is going to be late! Catch the mischievous rabbit before Alice the Gothorita can and watch out for the bizarre obstacles of Wonderland.Setting: Travel throughout the complex landscape of Wonderland. As you chase the White Bunnelby, the adventure will take you through mysterious doors, dark forests, and an eccentric castle. Clear the four obstacles better than Alice can and the Bunnelby is yours!

Trial 4: Marina Swift – Fountain Garden – Water Polo Shootout

Objective: A 3 vs 3 shootout where each Pokemon takes a turn to try and score on the other team’s goal. The team with the most points after three or more rounds wins.

Rules: Each round the teams will alternate as every Pokemon gets a chance to score on the opposing team’s goal with a small lightweight ball. The thrower will get a chance to use an attack to boost their attempt while the other two Pokemon are allowed to use one move each as a support. The defending Pokemon will be allowed one attack each to try and block the other team from scoring. Pokemon are not permitted to attack their opponents directly or cross the midway point of the playing field. If the score is tied after three rounds, the shootout will continue until one team misses and the other team scores.

Competition Field Description: The match takes place in a circular pool of water about 50 feet in diameter. Water gently cascades over the side of a higher up pool into the playing field on one side and overflows onto lower pools below on the other side. The pool is about 3 feet deep and a few lily pads are spread out throughout the pool for Pokemon light enough to stand on them. There are goals on each end made out of reeds.

Galea Plains: A vast stretch of rolling grassy hills. There are a few scattered trees that supply shade as a gentle breeze blows from the mountain. There is a ranger’s cabin that allows travelers to rest up their pokemon and prepare for the hike that is yet to come. A wide variety of pokemon inhabit this area. (Please reply in lightgreen)

Elka had heard rumours of the Cloud Garden as a child, but always assumed that she would never actually be able to explore such a fantastic area. Her first destination was the Galea Plains, as she assumed that the nice flat terrain would be the easiest to traverse with her crutches. Her companion and service Pokemon, Pascal, lead the way. His purple harness and leash contrasted greatly against the pale green grass that surrounded her. She knew that she would inevitably, eventually have to hike up the mountain; and she was more than willing when the time came. However, some nice relaxation in the beautiful grassy hills seemed like the best way to start.

Pascal, her Eevee companion, seemed to be having the time of his life. At every small shrub or lone tree, he stopped himself to take a sniff of the wildlife. Elka supposed that he probably never got out much before she obtained him, with the rigorous training that service Pokemon have to go through. All of this was probably new to him, and well, it was kind of new to Elka as well. She avoided the outdoors after being diagnosed with her disease, not wanting to be seen by others. However, her grand Pokemon journey would hopefully be the overcoming of such a petty concern. She would have no reason to hide once she was one of the most famous trainers. She had no clear destination in mind, but she knew that eventually she would see some sort of Pokemon peaking it's head out from one of the small hills, or from one of the tall trees in her wake. Whatever was coming her way, she was ready for it. She felt like she could take on anything right now.

My first update in about seven years, so I hope it's not too disorganized. XD Welcome to the CG!

Naruxami:Having long since desired to explore the picturesque peaks of the Cloud Garden, Elka arrived in order to fulfill her goal along with her fluffy companion Pascal. The first stop on her journey: the Galea Plains. Wanting to get acclimated to the atmosphere before she began her ascent up the mountain, Elka figured this grassy meadow would be a great place to start.

Imposing mountain aside, the Galea Plains were quite a view in of itself. Lush green grass covered the gentle rolling hills that extended as far as the eye could see. Thin trees dotted the pasture and provided small oases of shade in a sort of winding connect-the-dots pathway toward the mountainside. With a soft breeze at their backs, Elka and Pascal began their journey along said path. As the two made their way up and down the rolling hills, Elka could spot the edge of the grassland in the far horizon. It was a thick line of trees that was undoubtedly the Cloud Forest, a destination for maybe another day. For now, it was enough to enjoy this pristine setting with the warm sunlight beaming overhead.

Elka’s train of thought about basking in the sunlight was suddenly derailed however, as a large shadow momentarily eclipsed the sun. Looking up to see what it was, Elka spotted a large bird soaring high above her. It was hard to make out what kind of bird Pokemon it was from this distance, but it was unmistakably circling around, like a bird of prey searching for its kill. However, it wasn’t the trainer nor her small Eevee that was being targeted; the bird appeared to be circling a lone tree with thick branches a stone’s throw away.

Since she was already heading in that direction, Elka decided to check things out. There could be a weak or injured Pokemon there that might be in danger of becoming that bird’s lunch. As Elka and Pascal approached the tree, the two looked around expecting to find something huddled up against the trunk. There was nothing in sight. It wasn’t until the two heard a faint rustle amongst the leaves above that they looked up to see a small bundle of brown fur clinging tightly to a branch.

“Ur, ur!” it weakly whimpered, quite aware of the danger it was in. Upon further inspection, the Pokemon hiding in the tree was a chubby little Teddiursa cub. The picture became all too clear when Elka next spotted a stolen picnic basket that the cub must have carried up into the tree. No doubt in her mind, this greedy little cub strayed too far from the forest and now it was paying the price. The predator above let out a menacing screech, announcing its intentions that it would not give up this prey today. It was up to Elka whether or not she wanted to interfere with the circle of life.

Galea Plains: A vast stretch of rolling grassy hills. There are a few scattered trees that supply shade as a gentle breeze blows from the mountain. There is a ranger’s cabin that allows travelers to rest up their pokemon and prepare for the hike that is yet to come. A wide variety of pokemon inhabit this area. (Please reply in lightgreen)

It's another glorious day in the Cloud Garden. It feels like a very, very long time since ABL's been here, but the sights are still rather familiar to her. The young woman's hair flutters in the breeze, but she pays it no mind. She's in too good a mood. She adjusts her backpack and stops for a moment to breathe in the crisp hilltop air before smiling down at her companion. Today, she's accompanied by a fluffy little lamb, and looking at them both, it's hard to tell who seems more pleased to be out exploring the Galea Plains.

"It's just you and me today, girl," ABL says. The Mareep bleats appreciatively, her striped tail swaying back and forth. "It's been a long time since we've spent time together like this. I'm really glad we have this chance!"

The pair walk on a little further before the trainer realises her Pokémon is walking in a somewhat stiff fashion. Something is clearly bothering her. ABL gasps, slapping her hand to her forehead.

"That was thoughtless of me!" She nods her head towards an especially inviting patch of vegetation. "Of course you must want to, I'm sorry."

With no more encouragement needed, Daffodil hurries over to the chosen spot and immediately rolls around in the lush grass. The bliss on the lamb's face is obvious, and the sound of ABL's laughter carries far and wide across the plains.

Once Daffodil has enjoyed some solid chlorophyll bonding time, she dutifully trots back to her trainer's side. ABL rubs the Mareep's head affectionately, her fingertips massaging through the tuft of soft wool between Daffodil's rounded horns. Together, they walk on over the gentle slopes, wondering what the Cloud Garden might have in store for the two of them today...

Galea Plains: A vast stretch of rolling grassy hills. There are a few scattered trees that supply shade as a gentle breeze blows from the mountain. There is a ranger’s cabin that allows travelers to rest up their pokemon and prepare for the hike that is yet to come. A wide variety of pokemon inhabit this area. (Please reply in lightgreen)

Today was a very special day for Patches and her Pikachu Mio. "As I promised Mio, we're finally back. How long has it been since we were last here? 13 years?" Patches can't seem to remove the huge smile on her face, not that she wants to. 'This place brings back so many memories. The place where it all began. I'm happy I was able to keep my promise to Mio. This is the first place we ever journeyed to together back when it was just the two of us.' She takes a deep breath and stretches her arms up to the sky then intentionally allows herself to fall backwards, landing softly in the grass. "Ahhh, it's such a beautiful day to be back too." She lays there feeling very nostalgic.

"Pikachu!" Mio begins to intentionally roll herself down the hill and then runs back to the top just to do it all over again. "Oh, that looks like a lot of fun!" Patches doesn't hesitate to join her, although she's an adult it's very rare that she acts like it so rolling down hills isn't unusual for her. However, it does seem to tire her out much quicker than it would have if she were still her younger self. "Alright Mio, I'm going to go sit under that tree over there but you can play for as long as you like!" She says while walking away toward a nearby tree. She settles herself down in the shade on the grass below the tree and watches as her Pikachu continues to play on the hills in the distance. The beautiful day mixed with the sound of the leaves rustling as the wind blows through the trees is so soothing that Patches finds herself nearly dozing off so she shuffles through her bag for a familiar pokeball. Most trainers keep their Pokémon within reach but Patches has always been very unorganized and tends to just throw her Pokémon's pokeballs in with everything else. "Found you!" She presses the button releasing a very happy Charmander. "Oh, hello there Kei! Heh, I thought I had grabbed Rika's pokeball but I'm just as happy to see you!" Kei's not sure if he should be feeling happy or offended by that statement but decides to just go with the former and gives Patches a quick hug before looking out at Mio playing on the hills. "I just figured it'd be nice to have some company while I relax under this tree. Care to join me?" Kei walks over and sits down next to Patches leaning into her and the two of them remain there nice and content while they wait for Mio to tire herself out.

Yay, two more updatees to participate in the CG's revival. Welcome! Looks like there will be a lot of lightgreen around here. XD

AshsBabyLapras:It had been quite some time since ABL last stepped foot in the Cloud Garden, so spirits were high as she headed off onto the Galea Plains. The weather was in perfect condition today; the sun shining brightly overhead with some giant fluffy clouds slowly inching their way across the sky. Sending out her Mareep Daffodil to share the experience, ABL gazed out across the rolling hills with scattered trees that provided the perfect shelters to take naps under.

While Daffodil darted around, happily chowing down on some of the lush grass, ABL took a moment to rest against one of the trees and appreciate the peaceful setting. She smiled as she watched her Mareep frolic about, darting up and down the hills while not straying too far from her trainer. However, in a bout of momentary carelessness, Daffodil let out a shocked bleat and took a spill, rolling head over tail down the hill.

ABL quickly got up and rushed over to her Pokemon to make sure she was okay. Daffodil quickly got up and shook it off, looking around perplexed. She had tripped over what seemed like a piece of firewood; a neatly chopped tree branch that rested conspicuously on the hillside. ABL picked up the mysterious piece of wood, remarking how the cut was too clean to have been created by nature. The edges were rounded and smooth as well. She looked around to see if there were any settlements nearby to no success.

Suddenly, her attention was caught by a faint cry coming over the hill behind her. “Muh muh muh!” a pink blob wailed as it bounced its way over to them. Upon closer inspection, the incoming Pokemon appeared to be a small pink Munna with little purple flower-shaped spots on its back. Its focus was locked in on the piece of wood ABL held in her hand, incessantly hopping up and down in an attempt to retrieve it. Not wanting to be a hindrance, ABL set the piece of wood down next to the energetic Pokemon.

Munna seemed to calm down quite a bit, pleased that it was now in possession of the wood. However, as it began to push the branch up the hill with its nose, ABL could tell that it was struggling quite a bit. She quickly scooped up the wood once again, causing the Munna to chirp back into a frenzy of “Muh!” sounds and carried it up to the top of the hill next to the tree where she set it back down. Munna quieted down once more, but it had a panicked look on its face. It appeared as if it wanted to tell ABL something, but it was up to her whether or not she felt like sticking around to listen.

Patches:The weather was in perfect condition as Patches and her Pikachu Mio set out onto the Galea Plains. It had been quite some time since she last ventured into the Cloud Garden, but this setting with the large cotton-like clouds above felt very familiar. Mio’s excitement was infectious as Patches couldn’t help from chasing her Pikachu up and down the rolling hills. The green grass was so soft and inviting that the pair began to roll down the slopes in sheer joy.

After a while, Patches decided to take a break while Mio continued her revelry. She sat under one of many trees that were scattered across the meadow, providing an umbrella-like shade for a perfect resting spot at the top of the hill. Calling upon another one of her Pokemon to enjoy the atmosphere, Patches mistakenly sends out her Charmander, Kei, but welcomes him anyway. Kei smiles and rests with his trainer under the shade of the tree, a gentle breeze blowing past them.

It wasn’t too long until this moment of tranquility was interrupted. Mio suddenly came darting up to Patches and Kei, trying to draw their attention to something. She must have picked up an unusual sound with her ears, because they were standing up in alert and were twitching. She then darted back down the hill, but not too fast so that Patches and Kei could keep up.

Jogging down the hill and up and over another hill, Patches could see a sort of commotion in the short distance. There seemed to be some kind of squabble going on. Picking up the pace, Patches and her two Pokemon hurried over to see what it was. As they approached the tussle, it seemed to involve two bear-like Pokemon. The first was a little black and white cub, a Pancham, who was bullying the pink and brown cub, a Stufful. The Pancham was repeatedly pushing the Stufful down to the ground, who in turn was crying out pitifully and trying to get back on its feet. Dare Patches attempt to break up this squabble?

The Galea Foothills:
The Galea Foothills covers the greatest expanse of land in the Cloud Garden. Beginning with Galea Town, adventurers may follow along the Starline River up across the plains and into the mountain. Other areas include the Starline River, the Rose Garden, Galea Plains, Cloud Forest, and the Stone Shrine. The boundary of the foothills lies at the Starline Falls, a giant waterfall that cascades down from the incline above.

Starline River: A calm river that flows down from the mountain and passes by the village on its way to the lake. The water is crystal clear in the shallower areas, darker in the deeper center. The river makes a great place for picnics and for those who enjoy fishing. (Please reply in skyblue)

As Spark swallowed the last bite of his hastily prepared ham and Swiss sandwich, Coron likewise finished the last of his triple candy dessert, sighing in satisfaction after the pleasing meal...until a not-so-subtle burp freed up some stomach space. While Spark packed up the picnic supplies, his Mareanie companion entertained himself by investigating his trainer's bag, not so secretively attempting to locate where he had stashed the rest of the candy. Spark couldn't help but chuckle at the newborn's antics. Unbeknownst to Coron, the remaining candies were currently resting deep in Spark's left pocket, a much harder vault to breach than a simple backpack. Once everything was wrapped up, Spark stuffed the supplies back into his backpack, and Coron ceased his search, turning his attention to making patterns in the sand with his tentacles, obviously trying to make it seem as if nothing had ever happened.

"Alright, bud. Time to set off again. We've got a ways to go before we get to the mountains," noted Spark, peering at the far off, cloud enshrouded peaks. Opening the top of his pack slightly, Spark allowed Coron to climb inside, giving him a moment to settle in snugly. Mareanie's weren't the easiest Pokemon to bond with while traveling, but Spark supposed that this worked well enough since he could still manage the increased weight. "Maybe we can take a little swimming break later. Don't want you to be too stiff once we make it to the trials," mentioned Spark, examining the pristine mountain water as the two walked against the current, away from the nearby town. In response, Spark felt a damp tap on his shoulder. Bending his neck around, he saw one of Coron's tentacles bent upwards, raising the bottom point straight into the air. It took him a moment, but given that it was accompanied by a "Mare" that sounded cheerful enough, Spark just assumed it was his best thumbs up rather than another, ruder finger gesture.

"Glad you're up for it. Here's to a fun bonding trip!" he cheered, tossing a fourth candy behind his head, which Coron easily caught with his tentacles and downed in a matter of seconds, placating him...for now.

Cloud Forest: A dense forest that surrounds the base of the mountain. The trees are home to many kinds of bug, grass, and bird pokemon as well as many others. A woodcutter’s cabin is home to one of the two trial leaders for the Galea Plains. (Please reply in limegreen).

The trees on the outer edge of the forest swayed wildly in the shade of the overcast summer day. The psithurism from their leaves brushing against the wind coupled with sound of Nincada chirping in the distance created a natural symphony of peaceful wonder and awe. Hiero closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh mountainous air.

It was no wonder some had considered the Cloud Garden to be nature's "love letter" to the world. People, the earth, and Pokemon were often see to be as one here. In short, the very essence of the Cloud Garden at any given point was nothing short of majestic.

Hiero knew this; it hadn't been his first time at the Garden, let alone the Cloud Forest, though it was a much different place back then. The memories of the swaying trees took him back - it was a different time, where the world seemed to be simpler and less confusing, even if it was only the blissful ignorance of youth that had sheltered him with such a view. He sighed, patted his side where his Pokeballs were held, and walked down the path leading directly into the thick of the forest. He wasn't entirely sure what he would encounter here, but he knew that, whatever it was, it couldn't possibly be more out of left field or terrifyingly... unnatural... than his last romp through the thick shade of the forest. All he knew is that he was prepared for whatever would come his way - even if it was just a lulling stroll through nature's beauty.

Location: Life and love make fools of us all. Gods reject the existence of love and life.

Posts: 1,590

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandaa

CLOUDGARDEN

The Galea Foothills:
The Galea Foothills covers the greatest expanse of land in the Cloud Garden. Beginning with Galea Town, adventurers may follow along the Starline River up across the plains and into the mountain. Other areas include the Starline River, the Rose Garden, Galea Plains, Cloud Forest, and the Stone Shrine. The boundary of the foothills lies at the Starline Falls, a giant waterfall that cascades down from the incline above.

Rose Garden: A colorful garden that has been beautifully maintained. Roses among maybe other kinds of flowers of all sorts of colors and shapes make this scenic area a must-see for those who have come to sightsee. The fragrant aroma has made this garden the home for a number of species of grass and bug type pokemon. (Please reply in springgreen)

Mount Zephyria. For many years, people have lived under its shadow, beneath the eternal clouds circling the peak, and in recent times the noble spire had been off limits to many, with a giant floating island hundreds of miles away proclaimed by many to be known as the Cloud Garden. With the locals of Zephyria referring to their sacred mountain and regions as the Cloud Garden too, they saw the well-known one as a lesser land, a meagre pretender to their own utopia.

And then the meteor struck the floating island.

Nobody saw it coming, many saw it as an omen from the gods, and many proclaimed it a tragedy, the island and its many well-known locations, from Delibird Ridge and the Mystery Isle to the Rose Arch and Memory Lane. In a few short moments, reduced to nothing but flaming rubble tumbling into the ocean beneath, countless pokemon lives lost.

From the ashes, however, there was hope. With the old garden no more, Zephyria was deemed the new Cloud Garden by the new administration, and trainers began to migrate to the land once more, bringing in a new era of prosperity for the natives of the mountain.

One such trainer, Alex Blackhall, had travelled to the island for no reason other than to explore. Having left his fortress base, and passing through Galea Town, where he learned of the three constituent levels of the mountain, he set his sights on the rose garden first, for no reason other than acclimatisation and to enjoy the view. While he had interest in scaling the mountain and visiting the Colosseum in the future, so as to reinforce any doubtful that he scaled Zephyria, for now he was content with ambling through the natural garden.

By both sides waddled two pokemon, and the other hand of his intentions. With a slowly growing team, he felt the need to get to properly know some of his lesser team members, the ones who would be more on his casual side, rather than the squad of experienced combatants he referred to as his legion. While he was technically not in the Order as he used to be, he still held the title of Demonbreaker, those who would not falter in the face of evil but rather spit in it, bringing those who would threaten harmony to their knees, but even a templar against evil had to have their casual time. To his left, a short rodent with sandy plates across much of the body and small claws, while to his right, a larger blue rodent with prominent fangs protruding from a larger snout and bristling with small barbs. The Sandshrew and Nidorina, Alex admitted, had been interacted with rather seldomly, and as the trio wandered the garden, he felt he would do best with finding them something to do.

If that something also curtailed a potential new teammate, then the journey would be worthwhile. He planned to be in Zephyria for an extensive duration, anyways.

Rose Garden: A colorful garden that has been beautifully maintained. Roses among maybe other kinds of flowers of all sorts of colors and shapes make this scenic area a must-see for those who have come to sightsee. The fragrant aroma has made this garden the home for a number of species of grass and bug type pokemon. (Please reply in springgreen)

Lucas wanted his first real adventure as an actual Pokémon trainer to be as memorable as possible. He had mulled over maps and brochures and books to find where might be the best place to start his tenure as a trainer. After extensive research (and a little bit of advice from his new friend), he had decided on the Cloud Garden. Before he left, Jeri had lent him a few of the Pokémon that had been left in his care by a mysterious party, asking him in exchange to scout locations for a potential secret base.

With full intent on keeping his word, he made his way to the lush lands surrounding the towering Mt. Zephyra, planning originally to prioritize exploring places that might be more appropriate for bases, like cliff sides or forests or the like. But upon arriving, he immediately abandoned his plan, drawn to a sign indicating the existence of a Rose Garden. He just couldn't pass it up - he had loved gardens in his Kalosian home, and seeing an exotic one in what seemed like an otherworldly place such as this was just too good to pass up. He took the rambling path leading to the garden, following the sickeningly sweet scent of flowers wafted by the wind, the anticipation of seeing the lovely buds in person welling in his chest, drawing him in like a siren's song.

He was sure he would have ample opportunity to explore further, but for now, a quick look couldn't hurt, right?

Stone Shrine: A small shrine made out of stone. It is located at the base of the Starline Falls in a clearing filled with jagged rock formations. Many rock and ground type pokemon can be found here. The shrine is home to one of the two trial leaders for the Galea Plains. (Please reply in lightslategray)

The stones around Bridget made her feel immensely small. She knew that she was small - Axew, after all, are not the largest Pokemon - but as she looked up, across the Starline Falls, she couldn't believe it. She was strong, wasn't she? Then how could she compare to the force of the waterfall above? How could she feel like the strongest Pokemon on the team when the world made her feel so weak? These were unfamiliar feelings to her. Just yesterday, she was playing with Buddy in the park while Jade tried to talk with another apartment complex. Now she felt insecure and scared. She would much rather be playing again.

"Hey, Bridget! Where'd you go, girl?" Jade called out across the clearing. Bridget waddled around to the other side of the boulder she was standing behind. She waved across the way and Jade walked over. "You had me worried for a second there. C'mon, let's see if we can find someone important here. There should be a shrine somewhere." Jade kneeled down as she spoke, scratching the underside of her companion's neck. Bridget preened, happy to see her trainer. Bridget was very happy to be with Jade. She didn't feel as scared with her. Jade rose up, trying to take in her surroundings best she could.

She had come to this place in hopes of learning more about the culture of the Galea Village. Recently, she had become a bit nosy about other cultures, but surely that wasn't all bad. She spent a short time in the village without anything of real interest showing up - just a simple cafe she visited with good tea and a group of kids playing a sport she didn't quite understand. Jade decided that the best way to go about this would be to travel to a nearby shrine that some people had mentioned. It was part of a long line of challenges, apparently, and farther up the mountain, she could find more important aspects of this place. The idea of the tournament that happened at the peak didn't particularly appeal to her, but visiting and spectating sure did. Sadly, she got the feeling that even entering the Colosseum would take more than a bit of adventuring to get there.

Bridget, on the other hand, had become very interested in the event way up high. Her friends trusted her to be strong, after all. Why couldn't she go up there and prove it? But Jade seemed infatuated with the art and religion of the Cloud Garden, and Bridget wasn't sure how to ask or tell her that she wanted to fight and prove her mettle, so she just followed, hoping that fate would bring her to where she longed to be - a little bit higher and a little bit taller.

My first update in about seven years, so I hope it's not too disorganized. XD Welcome to the CG!

Naruxami:Having long since desired to explore the picturesque peaks of the Cloud Garden, Elka arrived in order to fulfill her goal along with her fluffy companion Pascal. The first stop on her journey: the Galea Plains. Wanting to get acclimated to the atmosphere before she began her ascent up the mountain, Elka figured this grassy meadow would be a great place to start.

Imposing mountain aside, the Galea Plains were quite a view in of itself. Lush green grass covered the gentle rolling hills that extended as far as the eye could see. Thin trees dotted the pasture and provided small oases of shade in a sort of winding connect-the-dots pathway toward the mountainside. With a soft breeze at their backs, Elka and Pascal began their journey along said path. As the two made their way up and down the rolling hills, Elka could spot the edge of the grassland in the far horizon. It was a thick line of trees that was undoubtedly the Cloud Forest, a destination for maybe another day. For now, it was enough to enjoy this pristine setting with the warm sunlight beaming overhead.

Elka’s train of thought about basking in the sunlight was suddenly derailed however, as a large shadow momentarily eclipsed the sun. Looking up to see what it was, Elka spotted a large bird soaring high above her. It was hard to make out what kind of bird Pokemon it was from this distance, but it was unmistakably circling around, like a bird of prey searching for its kill. However, it wasn’t the trainer nor her small Eevee that was being targeted; the bird appeared to be circling a lone tree with thick branches a stone’s throw away.

Since she was already heading in that direction, Elka decided to check things out. There could be a weak or injured Pokemon there that might be in danger of becoming that bird’s lunch. As Elka and Pascal approached the tree, the two looked around expecting to find something huddled up against the trunk. There was nothing in sight. It wasn’t until the two heard a faint rustle amongst the leaves above that they looked up to see a small bundle of brown fur clinging tightly to a branch.

“Ur, ur!” it weakly whimpered, quite aware of the danger it was in. Upon further inspection, the Pokemon hiding in the tree was a chubby little Teddiursa cub. The picture became all too clear when Elka next spotted a stolen picnic basket that the cub must have carried up into the tree. No doubt in her mind, this greedy little cub strayed too far from the forest and now it was paying the price. The predator above let out a menacing screech, announcing its intentions that it would not give up this prey today. It was up to Elka whether or not she wanted to interfere with the circle of life.

It was so peaceful in the plains, Elka admired having time to herself. Well, it wasn't exactly just herself, but Pascal was certainly peaceful enough company. The warm sunlight felt nice on her skin, after being cooped up in her home for so long with no chance to feel the sunlight on her skin it was certainly peaceful. She was admiring the quiet of the plains and the warmth of the sun, when she felt a cool shadow brush over her body. She glanced upwards, noticing a rather large and menacing looking bird. It was like a vulture, circling around her as though it was looking for it's next meal. Elka was used to be pried at with those awful eyes, people her own age, doctors, no one seemed to actually look at Elka, but rather her crutches. However, this bird was eyeing her like a hawk, or... so she assumed. She kept a watchful eye on it, noticing that it was actually flying towards a tree not far in the distance from where she was currently standing. She was confused as to why the bird would be circling such a large and pointed tree, she glanced at her partner; the young Eevee was laying in the warm grass, letting it gently circle his fur.

"Pascal, we should go see what's up with that bird, don'tcha think?" She pointed towards the bird, bracing herself on her crutches. The Eevee opened his eyes and looked towards the tree, standing on his feet. He looked excited at the prospect of the bird attempting to get some sort of treasure in the tree. He began to quickly trot towards it, picking up speed as he got closer. Elka strained to keep up, pulling on his leash in an attempt to slow him down. Once they arrived at the tree, they looked around, first seeing nothing. However, upon further inspection, they noticed a large tuff of light brown fur clinging to the branch.

It was a small teddy bear like Pokemon, clinging onto the tree as the hungry predator circled greedily around it. It whimpered weakly as it noticed the danger it was in, it was quite possible that the young bear would lose it's life today. A picnic basket hung on one of the higher branches, making Elka immediately realise what had occurred. The little bear must have wandered out of the forest in an attempt to steal food from the humans, and now karma was coming back to haunt it. It was a little on the chubby side, it probably didn't need the food but it must've been hungry. The large bird gave a loud screech, making it clear it wasn't going to be so easily deterred from it's current prey. Elka knew she had to help, and she had to help quickly.
She doubted Pascal could take on such a beast alone, but perhaps with some help he'd be able to. She reached into her backpack and pulled out Mochi's Pokeball, the young Skitty burst through, mewling happily.

Elka pointed up towards the bird, the Skitty nodded rapidly. Elka smirked, this was going to be her first real Pokemon battle. She was extremely excited to engage this menace on such a young child.

"Alright Mochi, use Thunderbolt on that bird!" The Skitty nodded, unleashing a flurry of lightning from it's mouth.

Patches:The weather was in perfect condition as Patches and her Pikachu Mio set out onto the Galea Plains. It had been quite some time since she last ventured into the Cloud Garden, but this setting with the large cotton-like clouds above felt very familiar. Mio’s excitement was infectious as Patches couldn’t help from chasing her Pikachu up and down the rolling hills. The green grass was so soft and inviting that the pair began to roll down the slopes in sheer joy.

After a while, Patches decided to take a break while Mio continued her revelry. She sat under one of many trees that were scattered across the meadow, providing an umbrella-like shade for a perfect resting spot at the top of the hill. Calling upon another one of her Pokemon to enjoy the atmosphere, Patches mistakenly sends out her Charmander, Kei, but welcomes him anyway. Kei smiles and rests with his trainer under the shade of the tree, a gentle breeze blowing past them.

It wasn’t too long until this moment of tranquility was interrupted. Mio suddenly came darting up to Patches and Kei, trying to draw their attention to something. She must have picked up an unusual sound with her ears, because they were standing up in alert and were twitching. She then darted back down the hill, but not too fast so that Patches and Kei could keep up.

Jogging down the hill and up and over another hill, Patches could see a sort of commotion in the short distance. There seemed to be some kind of squabble going on. Picking up the pace, Patches and her two Pokemon hurried over to see what it was. As they approached the tussle, it seemed to involve two bear-like Pokemon. The first was a little black and white cub, a Pancham, who was bullying the pink and brown cub, a Stufful. The Pancham was repeatedly pushing the Stufful down to the ground, who in turn was crying out pitifully and trying to get back on its feet. Dare Patches attempt to break up this squabble?

Patches was completely out of breath. After having exhausted all of her energy playing on the hills not very long ago, the fact that she had to jog over a hill to keep up with Mio took nearly all of the energy she had left. She speaks between breaths, “Mio.. can you… please go a bit… slower next time?” she falls to her knees in order to rest and looks ahead, she immediately notices some sort of commotion not too far from where she was. She suddenly stands up and begins running ahead of her Pokemon in order to get a better look. Turns out, she has plenty of energy left after all, she was just being overdramatic.

“So cuuuuute!!” She squeaks out when she spots the cubs ahead of her. “Charrr...” Kei notices that the Stufful is being bullied right away and being an emotional little guy he begins to tear up. “Aw Kei... Are you sad that you don’t have a little bear friend?” As usual, Patches is completely oblivious to the reality of the situation. She tends to see the world through rose-colored glasses and sometimes it takes effort from her Pokemon to make her realize that something just isn’t right. “PIIII!” Mio has had enough. She can’t stand to watch the bullying go on any longer and doesn’t want to waste time trying to explain it to Patches. She makes up her mind on her own and takes off running straight for the Pancham, she knows she is going to have to force it to Play Nice.

Patches notices Mio take off toward the two little cubs and suddenly comes up with an idea, she then looks down at Kei. “They look like they are so soft! You want to be their friend and Mio clearly has the right idea! Time for a group hug!!” She takes off running behind Mio with her arms spread wide open fully prepared to scoop up all of the Pokemon and hug them tight. Kei knows Patches actually has a very bad idea and quickly grabs her leg in order to stop her, but it seems to be no use. Now Kei is just along for the ride and he is beginning to panic. He can’t think of any other way to stop his trainer so he is forced to let out a Smokescreen in hopes that it will make her miss her target. Seems like it’s just another day where due to how naive Patches can sometimes be, her Pokemon are forced to act on their own in order to protect her while also defending justice.

The Galea Foothills:Rose Garden: A colorful garden that has been beautifully maintained. Roses among maybe other kinds of flowers of all sorts of colors and shapes make this scenic area a must-see for those who have come to sightsee. The fragrant aroma has made this garden the home for a number of species of grass and bug type pokemon. (Please reply in springgreen)

Lillian stood at the edge of the Rose Garden, having come here with a specific purpose in mind; to lose herself among the flowers and relax. Her adventures in Bedlam Ridge had made her tense, and being around the wide variety of colors and scents would help to put her mind at ease. She would probably try to find a patch of flowers that were closer to a pastel color, however. Bright colors were kind of jarring to Lillian. She had Remilia come with her today, but this time, she needed Remilia in order to fight other Pokemon, which was something she figured she could do again since she had mostly recovered from her dosing of hallucinogens. Lillian wasn't sure if Remilia would ever really forgive Ffion for that...Lillian wasn't even sure if she could forgive Ffion.

"Do we really have to come somewhere with a bunch of flowers? I've found myself having a significant distaste for them as of late." Remilia said as she perched on top of Lillian's head. "I don't know. I've come to really like flowers myself. Lying in a field of flowers...is so relaxing for me." Lillian smirked as she scratched Remilia's head. "If things were different on this trip, we could relax in the fields together you know. Just you and me." Lillian smiled before becoming stern again. "But right now you're the only one who can battle other Pokemon without the chance of losing a limb, so I'm relying on you Remilia." Remilia rolled her eyes briefly, before flying down in front of Lillian.

"So, what is your plan? Are you just going to lie in the flowers and just wait for something to come by? Or are you going to search for trouble?" Lillian smiled. "Honestly I'm done looking for trouble right now. Right now, I just want to find a nice patch of flowers, lay down, and maybe take a nap. All the stress has been building up in my shoulders and back lately." Lillian stretched herself out as to make a point. "Well I can tell you what's probably making that back pain Lillian." Remilia flicked her tongue out, causing Lillian to blush.

"Alright, let's go Remilia. We don't want to waste time talking about things like that do we?"

The bubbling of the nearby stream was a lovely backdrop to your afternoon picnic. With Galea Town and its inhabitants behind you, and Mt. Zephyria towering overhead, you and your new partner felt a grand sense of adventure.

As you and many other travelers knew, the road ahead to the trials was not simple. Looking at the calm river beside you, though, it was hard to feel stressed or anxious about what lay ahead. The river wound lazily across the plains, with a dock placed here and there for fishing or boating. In fact, you noticed a shack up ahead on the trail. It wasn't anything flashy, and seemed to just be a few boards and pieces of tin fashioned together into something that managed to stand. Outside of it floated a couple of boats, who had also seen better days. A sandwich board outside the shack read "BAIT FOR SALE" in a messy scrawl. To some, this was a bit too sketchy of a location to investigate, but could seem charming to others.

On the other bank was a patch of soft grass, another ideal spot for picnicking. You saw a few couples and young families enjoying themselves on checkered blankets, Pokemon relaxing with them as well. A child giggled as he was chased by a grinning Aipom near the water's edge. Although a peaceful scene, it still looked interesting enough, as you never knew what the locals in the area had to say. You could see your Mareanie eyeing some of the food peaking out of the several picnic baskets seated next to their owners.

Raves:

The Garden was a regular spot for those looking to familiarize themselves with the area. Many trainers found themselves wandering through the tall hedges, admiring the view and almost constant good weather.

It's always strange to be among new friends for the first time. Although you know you have a lot in common, you are still getting used to each other. It was the same with Pokemon you recently started to use. You know they were happy to journey with you, but you weren't too familiar with each other's personalities, likes, and dislikes. The garden was often bustling with tourists, snapping pictures of the sculpted hedges, and it was hard to not have a good time whilst exploring it.

The Pokemon by your side seemed to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Garden as much as you did. Not to mention the smells. There was a distinct odor of roses, and both your Sandshrew and Nidorina had their noses in the air, taking it in. You noticed, strangely, that they were both fixated towards a particular direction. Even more strange, was the floating pink mist you observed. Almost like a cartoon, the mist wafted towards you and your Pokemon and filled your nose with its scent. Part of you felt drawn to this Aromatherapeutic scent.

However, there was plenty more to explore in the Rose Garden. You had taken note on your way in of several signs advertising the many species of roses the garden had to offer. A sign nearby boasted that the Garden's hedge maze was the "Largest in Fizzytopia", a statement you wondered was actually true or not.

Cloud Forest: A dense forest that surrounds the base of the mountain. The trees are home to many kinds of bug, grass, and bird pokemon as well as many others. A woodcutter’s cabin is home to one of the two trial leaders for the Galea Plains. (Please reply in limegreen)

Look, I get that you're not really real, DeKlars. You're just a figment of my imagination, so that means that what you do is actually just what I envision you doing." Muyo clarified to the hulking boat anchor that was floating at his side, putting his arm around its helm in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. "That still doesn't mean that you don't have to be careful. You're big and heavy whether you're real or not." The floating hunk of steel's compass spun around, approximating the closest it could get to rolling its eyes. Its owner still didn't seem aware that it was actually a Pokemon and not some fantastical phantasm, despite its repeated interactions with the environment to try and show that it had some very real weight and mass to it. Still, it was confident that he would come around eventually- how long could an otherwise normal person maintain such a strange delusion, anyway?

Muyo slowly turned away from his floating companion and something in his mind clicked as he looked through the trees. "I've been here before..." he murmured in a tone that was just audible over the low thrum of life that the forest naturally produced. If he didn't know better, he would have sworn that this place was a part of the Cloud Garden. That was a preposterous thought, though- dark machinations had been set in place to ensure that he would never step into that land again. It must be another hallucination, like his new associate the floating anchor, he reasoned, but still... As long as he thought he was here, he might as well have some fun. "DeKlars... I'm home." he said with a smile as he stepped with determination into the forest. Real or not, there was opportunity for adventure again at last.

AshsBabyLapras:It had been quite some time since ABL last stepped foot in the Cloud Garden, so spirits were high as she headed off onto the Galea Plains. The weather was in perfect condition today; the sun shining brightly overhead with some giant fluffy clouds slowly inching their way across the sky. Sending out her Mareep Daffodil to share the experience, ABL gazed out across the rolling hills with scattered trees that provided the perfect shelters to take naps under.

While Daffodil darted around, happily chowing down on some of the lush grass, ABL took a moment to rest against one of the trees and appreciate the peaceful setting. She smiled as she watched her Mareep frolic about, darting up and down the hills while not straying too far from her trainer. However, in a bout of momentary carelessness, Daffodil let out a shocked bleat and took a spill, rolling head over tail down the hill.

ABL quickly got up and rushed over to her Pokemon to make sure she was okay. Daffodil quickly got up and shook it off, looking around perplexed. She had tripped over what seemed like a piece of firewood; a neatly chopped tree branch that rested conspicuously on the hillside. ABL picked up the mysterious piece of wood, remarking how the cut was too clean to have been created by nature. The edges were rounded and smooth as well. She looked around to see if there were any settlements nearby to no success.

Suddenly, her attention was caught by a faint cry coming over the hill behind her. “Muh muh muh!” a pink blob wailed as it bounced its way over to them. Upon closer inspection, the incoming Pokemon appeared to be a small pink Munna with little purple flower-shaped spots on its back. Its focus was locked in on the piece of wood ABL held in her hand, incessantly hopping up and down in an attempt to retrieve it. Not wanting to be a hindrance, ABL set the piece of wood down next to the energetic Pokemon.

Munna seemed to calm down quite a bit, pleased that it was now in possession of the wood. However, as it began to push the branch up the hill with its nose, ABL could tell that it was struggling quite a bit. She quickly scooped up the wood once again, causing the Munna to chirp back into a frenzy of “Muh!” sounds and carried it up to the top of the hill next to the tree where she set it back down. Munna quieted down once more, but it had a panicked look on its face. It appeared as if it wanted to tell ABL something, but it was up to her whether or not she felt like sticking around to listen.

ABL squawks in shock as her little Mareep takes a sudden fall down the slope. This started off as "ABL had a little lamb", I don't want it to turn into "Jack and Jill went up the hill". With that thought in mind, she hurries to check on Daffodil, but taking extra care to ensure she doesn't go tumbling after. Much to her relief, Daffodil seems to be unharmed from the spill.

The trainer briefly has an opportunity to examine what seems to have caused the mishap - a lone tree branch? She looks around at the trees in the area, but none in the immediate vicinity look to be missing any limbs and so the branch definitely seems a little out of place. ABL frowns.

Before she can delve any deeper into this mystery, an odd little Pokémon comes rushing over, clearly in some sort of panic. ABL willingly relinquishes the piece of wood, hoping this will help soothe the pink creature, but it remains in a highly agitated state. It seems very determined to do something with this branch, but what? Of course, ABL hates to see a Pokémon in distress and very much wants to offer her assistance, but what could the goal of all this be? The trainer scratches her head.

"What exactly is the matter, little one?" she begins, speaking in a soft and hopefully calming voice. "You don't look like the kind of Pokémon that would want to play fetch. Are you trying to build something, I wonder?"

She looks over at Daffodil, hoping she might be able to help interpret some communication here, or at least indicate what the nature of the problem is.

"I want to help you, so please don't worry," ABL tells the flowery ball. "It'll be alright, just show me what it is you'd like me to do, okay?"

The light breeze and fresh scent of roses immediately brought a calm to you and your Woobat. Though there were several others visiting the Rose Garden today, it was still rather quiet aside from the occasional cry of a wild Grass or Bug type Pokemon.

You made your way past the small groups of people taking pictures of the sculpted hedges and blooming roses to a more secluded area of the Garden. Fortunately for you, the roses seemed to be organized by color. You passed the reds, oranges, yellows, onto the softer greens and blues. In the center of the blue section was a hedge sculpted to look like a Komala. There was even a large log placed in the arms of the sculpture, imitating ones the Drowsing Pokemon were always seen with. Beneath the sculpture was a soft patch of grass that looked perfect to lay in. You felt your stress begin to wash away as you lowered yourself onto the spot. Taking a note from the sculpture above you, you begin to drift off...

You were startled awake by a tap on your shoulder. "Oh, hey sorry, you've just been here a while, I wanted to make sure you were ok?" A ranger in a red uniform was crouched next to you, a concerned look on his face. There was an Audino at his side with an equally concerned look. The pink Pokemon was wearing a red vest that matched the rangers, a cross on the uniform indicating it was part of the Medical team. "Actually, are you a Trainer? We could use your help with something. If you're feeling up to it, we are having one heck of a Scatterbug problem. Normally these guys eat the plants around here and its no problem, but they are just thriving this season. We're short staffed at the moment and guests have started complaining that they're eating the flowers..." The ranger looked over his shoulder, and sure enough, you could see several Scatterbug munching away at a patch of violet roses.

"You can catch them if you want, I think we have quite the variety of Vivillion patterns around here." His Audino had rushed over to the nearby Scatterbug, trying to shoo away the pests. "Or maybe you could just scare them off. Anything helps." He stood up again, and called his Audino back to him. It seemed he had to return to his rounds. He gave you a slight wave and nod goodbye before walking off towards the Ranger's station.

Deoxys:Stepping into the thick of the Cloud Forest, Hiero couldn’t help but be taken in by the sheer beauty of the landscape. Massive trees, standing tall and proud like skyscrapers, surrounded him making him almost feel small and insignificant in comparison. It was a tranquil kind of quiet as Hiero wandered down the slightly noticeable path; only the sounds of a gentle breeze rustling the leaves above, a few birds chirping, and the occasional bug noises filled the air.

Opting to sightsee various wild Pokemon in their natural habitat, Hiero slowly but surely began to spot and recognize several different species of Pokemon along the way. A lone Weedle inched its way up a tree. A patch of grassy Oddish leaves grew out of the dirt while the bodies rested underground. A nest of Taillow chirped up in the threes. For the most part, these species were all fairly common and the Pokemon appeared to be comfortably at home.

It was a few moments later that Hiero heard a new sound. A scratching noise, coming from the trees up ahead. Heading in that direction, he spotted a large blue shell in the near distance. It was a Heracross, scratching bark off a tree with its large elaborate horn so it could suck on the sap beneath. It didn’t seem fazed by Hiero’s presence, focused on its meal instead. With its natural defenses, this beetle had little to fear in this environment. It was up to Hiero now, whether he wanted to get closer or not.

Jerichi: Lucas had entered the Cloud Garden with a goal in mind; find a suitable location to house a Secret Base for his friend Jeri in exchange for borrowing his Pokemon as travel companions. He had intended on exploring forests, rivers, and cliff sides, but before he set out on his journey he heard something in the village that piqued his interest. Hailing from the exquisite and eccentric region of Kalos, the notion of visiting the Cloud Garden’s Rose Garden was too big to pass up.

As he set off down the path, vibrant flowers lined the road. The sweet smell and inviting colors all pointed in the same direction. Like a moth to a flame, Lucas couldn’t help but feel drawn in by the pleasing fragrance in the air. With the garden in sight up ahead, he could spot a number of structures covered in lush vines and surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges. Arriving at his destination, Lucas could see that this was no Parfum Palace, but it had its own beautiful charm.

While it was called the Rose Garden, there was a large variety of flowers planted in different flower beds across the garden. The main attraction were the aptly named roses of course, but a bountiful display of hydrangeas, tulips, lilies, and many more flowers decorated the vast expanse of the garden. As Lucas looked around, he began to notice that flora was not the only kind of life that existed here. Several species of Butterfree, Beautifly, and Vivillon fluttered around in the distance, while Combee worked hard to make sure the flowers were all pollinated. He then noticed a patch of Sunflora, all gazing upward to soak in the sunlight, with a few Sunkern saplings below them. However, one of the buds seemed off. Upon closer inspection, it was a Budew what was seemingly in the wrong flower bed. It appeared small and frail, as if it wasn’t getting enough sunlight.

Tyoyo3131: Jade and Bridget made their way through the forest that encircled Mt. Zephyria’s feet like a blanket. Bridget had expressed interest in making it to bigger and better places up the mountain in order to prove her determination, and in order to do so, the first step was to make it up the Starline Falls. The overflow of this massive waterfall rested nearby an ancient temple known as the Stone Shrine. As the pair made their way towards the shrine, it was actually the massive falls cascading down the mountainside in the distance that they were able to spot first.

While they were still in the forest, the trees had thinned out a bit and the road became quite rocky. Many boulders were scattered around the area, having tumbled down from the cliffs above. That was when they saw it; a large red wooden archway, or a Torii gate as they are called in Japanese architecture. Beyond the archway led a neatly paved and neatly swept stone pathway which was accompanied by a series of eight large stone lanterns, four on each side. Beyond that sat an ornate building made out of stone and wood with a sloped triangular roof and steps that led up to the doorway.

As Jade and Bridget passed through the Torii, the atmosphere changed drastically; while there wasn’t anything physically different, there was almost a supernatural sense that they had stepped into a different era. They began to walk down the stone pathway in their approach towards the shrine, when all of a sudden something leapt out from behind one of the stone lanterns. Much like Bridget, it was another small green bipedal reptile. “Larv!” it called out, making its best effort to startle the travelers before turning around and sprinting for the shrine.

Continuing their way towards the shrine, Jade noticed two stone pedestals on either side of the shrine’s entryway staircase. On both pedestals rested two dog-like statues. Upon closer inspection, they appeared to be actual living Pokemon, the brown one fixating its gaze on the newcomers intently while the red one laid there with its eyes closed but ears perked. A young woman stood at the base of the stairs in a traditional shrine maiden hakama with a broom in her hand. Behind her crouched the Larvitar from before, chuckling to itself mischievously.

“You’ll have to forgive this little one,” the girl greeted with a gentle smile, “He’s a bit of a troublemaker.” She looked down to see the look on Bridget’s face, one that showed determination to not be bested by her contemporary. “It would seem he has also gained a rival,” she continued, politely covering her mouth to giggle. “Welcome to the Stone Shrine. I am Ishi Madoka, and if you wish to travel up the falls, I am one of the two trial leaders you must clear to gain permission. There are two options for my challenge; during the daytime or in the darkness of night.”

Naruxami: Spotting the helpless Teddiursa up in the tree and the menacing bird that circled above, it wasn’t hard for Elka to put two and two together. Feeling pity for the poor chubby cub, she decided that it was best to defend it and give it a second chance at life. Elka called upon the assistance of her young Skitty, Mochi, to help out with this battle. She ordered the Skitty to unleash a Thunderbolt and get a jump on the bird, hopefully frying it in the process.

Mochi mewed obediently and prepared herself for battle. She cried out as electricity crackled in her mouth, unleashing a blast of a Thunderbolt upwards towards the circling predator. The blast wasn’t a direct hit, but it did seem to graze the bird, who cawed out angrily and turned its attention to the new target. Then, without warning, the bird stopped circling and suddenly dive-bombed the group. It began spinning rapidly like a corkscrew in a flurry of brown feathers lead by its vanguard of a long pointed beak.

Like a battering ram, the bird hit the ground, its Drill Run attack missing Mochi by about a foot. A good thing too, because from that altitude that attack could have seriously injured anyone, no matter who the target was. As the bird pulled its beak from the earth, Elka was finally able to get a closer look at it. A long, sharp red beak and pointy crown sat on a head above a slender neck and a great brown wingspan. The Fearow glared at Mochi angrily, letting out another loud caw. Its piercing gaze Leered at the Skitty, while the head cocked itself back, about to unleash a flurry of Fury Attacks.

Patches:Patches panted as she chased after her Pokemon who sprinted ahead to see what the commotion was. Upon arrival, it took her a few moments to register that these two adorable cub Pokemon were having a squabble where the Pancham was physically bullying the young Stufful. However, Mio the Pikachu decided to take control of the situation and leapt into the fray to try and play mediator. She quickly ran up to the Pancham, telling it in her own Pokemon language that it was time to Play Nice and stop being so mean to the Stufful.

The Pancham was taken aback, confused by the sudden newcomers, but putting up its best front, it grumpily Leered at Mio. “Cham! Cham!” it retorted in its own language, stepping forward and pushing Mio back with a series of three Arm Thrusts. In his best effort to assist his teammate, Kei the Charmander joined the battle and blew out a Smokescreen, hoping that the lack of visibility would deescalate the situation.

Unfortunately for Kei, his entrance to the skirmish seemed to intimidate the Stufful, who was under the impression that even more Pokemon came to fight it. In an act of self-defense, it Tackled Kei from the side, knocking the Charmander over. The look in its eye showed that Stufful wasn’t going to back down in this fight-over-flight stance and the battle had turned into a three-way battle royal. The Pancham began to Leer at Mio once again before it prepared to use another Arm Thrust while the Stufful Leered at Kei and began to Bide its time.

Muyotwo: As he wandered through the Cloud Forest with a Pokemon he wasn’t sure was real, Muyo questioned whether or not he was really back in the Cloud Garden, a place he was sure he would never return to. Much like the name of the forest he was in, Muyo’s mind was clouded, a feeling left behind by the old regime of Fizzytopia. It had been said that the old rulers often ground up Amoonguss spores in the recipe of their candy distribution, but that was a story for another day.

DeKlars the Dhelmise continued to think up ways to assert its actual existence to its trainer, who was still busy contemplating whether or not he really was back in the Cloud Garden. The trees of the Cloud Forest stood tall and proud, just as they had all those years ago, while a nest of Pidove chicks chirped in the branches above, a premonition of a brighter future for the next generation. This daydream-like state carried on for a short while until Muyo was suddenly snapped out of it by a loud “THWAP!” sound.

Looking ahead up the path, Muyo spotted a small clearing in the forest, where a bird with reddish feathers was whacking away at a tree trunk, using a long leek in a sort of Kendo stance. “What the duck is going on here,” he wondered to himself, observing the unusual Pokemon. The Farfetch’d was most certainly abnormal; its plumage much redder in color than a normal one with the three crown feathers on its head an even darker red than that. There was also a cross-shaped scar on its cheek, right next to its bill. The leek in its wing had an unusual appearance as well; the sprout seemingly upside-down as if it were a reverse-leaf leek.

Muyo heard the crunching of footsteps coming up from behind him. It was a burly lumberjack with a thick red beard and all of the traditional clothes you would expect. “Greetings there, m’name’s Samuel,” he greeted, extending his hand, “Looks like you’ve found the rurouni Farfetch’d. We call him Kennegi. Rumor has it that he was defeated pretty badly higher up the mountain, so he’s come down here to train. Ever since then he’s been looking for sparring partners in order to hone his skill and get his revenge.” As if on cue, the Farfetch’d turned to face the two trainers, looking at them expectantly. It was up to Muyo whether or not he wanted to accept this challenge.

AshsBabyLapras: As the Munna panicked and struggled with the fat little branch, ABL tried to calm it down by offering to listen to its concern and help in any way she could. The Munna let out a deep breath and nodded, stamping on the grass next to the tree. Understanding the indication that Munna wanted her to sit down against the tree, ABL and Daffodil complied, resting their backs against the trunk. Now that they were ready, Munna inhaled deeply once again, and let out a soothing Yawn.

ABL was a little confused at first, but as the saying goes, yawns are contagious. She and Daffodil couldn’t help but yawning themselves afterwards, and soon enough, their eyelids got heavier and heavier. Before they could even react, they had dozed off, resting peacefully against the tree.

Looking around, ABL found herself in a dream-like state. Daffodil was there too, almost as if they were both sharing the same dream. In the next moment, Munna appeared next to them. She seemed to be concentrating hard, as the background and various objects seemed to swirl into existence. There was no doubt that Munna was controlling this dream, and the two of them were along for the ride to watch the scene play out.

In Munna’s dream sequence, ABL could spot a small blueish-gray creature lying on a tree branch. It had fluffy ears and a big black nose. The little creature was fast asleep, but it appeared to be in severe discomfort. Almost as if it were sleepwalking, the creature tossed and turned, reaching its arms out as if it were missing something very important to it. Continuing its sleepwalk, the creature climbed down from the tree and wandered off, until it was completely gone from the picture.

The dream continued, and it showed Munna looking for a log, similar to the one Daffodil tripped on. She tried pushing it along the grass, but then she found another log. And another, followed by two more after that. Soon enough there was a giant pile of logs, and the right one was in there like a needle in a haystack. Munna must be conflicted about which one was the right one.

With that, the dream came to an end much like a bubble’s existence ends with a pop. Munna ate the rest of the dream in order to wake the trainer and the Mareep up as they roused themselves to find Munna staring up at them with a worried apprehension in her eyes. Munna must be quite worried about her friend and is asking if ABL would be willing to help.

The light breeze and fresh scent of roses immediately brought a calm to you and your Woobat. Though there were several others visiting the Rose Garden today, it was still rather quiet aside from the occasional cry of a wild Grass or Bug type Pokemon.

You made your way past the small groups of people taking pictures of the sculpted hedges and blooming roses to a more secluded area of the Garden. Fortunately for you, the roses seemed to be organized by color. You passed the reds, oranges, yellows, onto the softer greens and blues. In the center of the blue section was a hedge sculpted to look like a Komala. There was even a large log placed in the arms of the sculpture, imitating ones the Drowsing Pokemon were always seen with. Beneath the sculpture was a soft patch of grass that looked perfect to lay in. You felt your stress begin to wash away as you lowered yourself onto the spot. Taking a note from the sculpture above you, you begin to drift off...

You were startled awake by a tap on your shoulder. "Oh, hey sorry, you've just been here a while, I wanted to make sure you were ok?" A ranger in a red uniform was crouched next to you, a concerned look on his face. There was an Audino at his side with an equally concerned look. The pink Pokemon was wearing a red vest that matched the rangers, a cross on the uniform indicating it was part of the Medical team. "Actually, are you a Trainer? We could use your help with something. If you're feeling up to it, we are having one heck of a Scatterbug problem. Normally these guys eat the plants around here and its no problem, but they are just thriving this season. We're short staffed at the moment and guests have started complaining that they're eating the flowers..." The ranger looked over his shoulder, and sure enough, you could see several Scatterbug munching away at a patch of violet roses.

"You can catch them if you want, I think we have quite the variety of Vivillion patterns around here." His Audino had rushed over to the nearby Scatterbug, trying to shoo away the pests. "Or maybe you could just scare them off. Anything helps." He stood up again, and called his Audino back to him. It seemed he had to return to his rounds. He gave you a slight wave and nod goodbye before walking off towards the Ranger's station.

Lillian walked past the groups of people taking pictures of the various hedges and roses. While the idea of taking pictures did interest Lillian, she hadn't brought a camera with her, and in fact, didn't even know if she had a camera at all. Remilia might have one, but Lillian wasn't sure. It didn't really matter anyways, as they weren't here to sight see, but to find some rest and relaxation. She walked among the roses, noting that the roses were organized via color. It was a very convienent system which allowed her to bypass the colors she wasn't very interested to go towards the more subtle colors, like the blue roses she spotted. Neither Lillian or Nightingale could ever remember seeing blue roses before, but they were such a nice color that the both of them couldn't resist taking a nap under them. As Lillian and Remilia walked over towards the patch of blue flowers, Lillian saw that there was also a scuplted hedge as well. She had no idea what the hedge was sculpted to look like, but it was some kind of animal gripping a long log in its arm, almost like it was cuddling with it. Looking around, she saw that there was a patch of grass that looked almost perfect for lying down in. She lied down, Remilia resting beside her. Immediately, Lillian began to feet sleepy, and grabbing Remilia, much to a mild protest, and held her close to her chest, before quickly falling asleep.

Lillian was awoken by a tap on her shoulder. She woke up quickly to see that there was a ranger in a red uniform above her. She sat up, putting Remilia back on the ground. Remilia groggily woke up herself, wondering what all the commotion was about. Lillian listened to the Ranger as he explained what the problem was. The Scatterbug here, which Lillian had never heard of before, were exploding out of control, and were eating all of the plants in the area. As the ranger looked over his shoulder, Lillian could not only see what the problem was, but also the magnitude of the problem. All around the violet roses were Scatterbug. The black bugs with abnormally sized heads and a white ruff of fuzz around their necks were busy eating the rose bushes. They were like little gluttons, tearing off leaves and rose petals with abandon as they gorged themselves. Lillian found them to be rather cute, but listened to the ranger when he asked them to get rid of the Scatterbug in some way. Lillian did want to catch one of the little bugs, but she didn't really want to remove them via force.

The ranger left to go back to the ranger station while the Audino ran towards the Scatterbug, trying to see if it could shoo them off. Lillian noticed from the Pokemon's uniform that it was part of the medical staff, and felt compelled to help it. One nurse to another. Lillian ran forwards, leaving Remilia behind, who sighed. "I bet you don't even have a plan Lillian! Will you come back-ughhh!" Remilia flew towards Lillian, who was staring at the Scatterbug. Lillian saw Remilia fly near hear, and shook her head. "I don't want to hurt them. They just want to eat. Maybe we can relocate them somewhere. Bring them to a place with a bunch of food that they would be happy with. But I'm not sure how to do that..." Lillian went off deep into thought, before coming back with an idea. "Hey, Remilia, I wonder if you could Charm the Scatterbug so they'll follow you, and then we can lead them to greener pastures. What do you say?" Remilia grumbled a bit. "If this ends up like some sort of doujin, I'm blaming you, okay!? But let's get these Scatterbug out of here.

Jerichi: Lucas had entered the Cloud Garden with a goal in mind; find a suitable location to house a Secret Base for his friend Jeri in exchange for borrowing his Pokemon as travel companions. He had intended on exploring forests, rivers, and cliff sides, but before he set out on his journey he heard something in the village that piqued his interest. Hailing from the exquisite and eccentric region of Kalos, the notion of visiting the Cloud Garden’s Rose Garden was too big to pass up.

As he set off down the path, vibrant flowers lined the road. The sweet smell and inviting colors all pointed in the same direction. Like a moth to a flame, Lucas couldn’t help but feel drawn in by the pleasing fragrance in the air. With the garden in sight up ahead, he could spot a number of structures covered in lush vines and surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges. Arriving at his destination, Lucas could see that this was no Parfum Palace, but it had its own beautiful charm.

While it was called the Rose Garden, there was a large variety of flowers planted in different flower beds across the garden. The main attraction were the aptly named roses of course, but a bountiful display of hydrangeas, tulips, lilies, and many more flowers decorated the vast expanse of the garden. As Lucas looked around, he began to notice that flora was not the only kind of life that existed here. Several species of Butterfree, Beautifly, and Vivillon fluttered around in the distance, while Combee worked hard to make sure the flowers were all pollinated. He then noticed a patch of Sunflora, all gazing upward to soak in the sunlight, with a few Sunkern saplings below them. However, one of the buds seemed off. Upon closer inspection, it was a Budew what was seemingly in the wrong flower bed. It appeared small and frail, as if it wasn’t getting enough sunlight.

Lucas breathed deep, taking in the fresh, floral smells that surrounded him. He was reminded of Central Kalos and the numerous routes with meticulously groomed hedges and swaying flower beds where the Flabébé played. It wasn't quite as elaborate as the gardens of the Parfum Palace, but it held an ethereal charm all its own.

Lucas quickly discovered that the garden was not just roses alone, but a wide variety of flowers of all shapes, colors, varieties and scents. He soon also came to find there were a number of Pokémon living their lives among the blooms, including some familiar sights of Pokémon he had seen in Kalos. A particular group caught his eye - a number of Pokémon with big floral faces and what seemed to be their seed-like preevolution. There was one Pokémon, however, that seemed a little out of place in its bed... It was another he recognized as a resident of Kalos, a Budew. At first glance, the poor thing appeared to be in the wrong place entirely, sagging and wilting as it struggled to compete for sunlight with the rest of the plants and Pokémon.

Lucas felt compelled to help, though from his understanding of this particular Pokémon, although it was rather small, it could be a bit dangerous. He wasn't sure exactly what kind of help he could offer the little thing, but it seemed like it could use a hand either way. Trying his best not to spook it, he knelt down and offered a hand.

"Hello there, you look like you need some help. Maybe we can find you a nice sunny spot, or some water, perhaps?"

Stone Shrine: A small shrine made out of stone. It is located at the base of the Starline Falls in a clearing filled with jagged rock formations. Many rock and ground type pokemon can be found here. The shrine is home to one of the two trial leaders for the Galea Plains. (Please reply in lightslategray)

Sypher walked along the bank of the stream, listening to the rage of the waterfall behind him. He breathed deeply taking in the smell of fresh water. Having spent several weeks island hopping it had been a while since he had done this. He preferred this smell to the fishiness of the ocean. As a breeze began to stir, he felt the humidity on his skin. It was a giving air, never heavy and always cooling. As he stepped the crunch of the salty gravel beneath his feet added a lite drum beat to the symphony of the river. Finding a wide shallow pool he stopped and began to search through the stones at the bottom, hoping to find some loose members of the Beryl family amongst the skippers and rough stone. He had hoped to gather the materials for a small divining ritual, having already gathered the needed sage and ash wood.

Nearby, in a small outcrop of rocky spire jumped a helmeted lemur. This was Julian, a Sypher's Passimian. He would throw his berry at one spire, and jump to another to catch it on the rebound. He would hang for a moment, perfectly fine with the surrogate trees, before throwing again. When he failed to catch his berry, which didn't happen often, he would stop and walk to the river to splash water on his face. Then he would toss the berry out into the middle of the stream and let it float away before swimming in to retrieve it. Afterwards, he returned to practicing his rebounds.

"Yes!" Sypher said holding up an a small aquamarine to the sun. "You are a beauty! It took me well over three hours but I found you. Hell, look at me, I'm crying. I'm gonna need about ten more, thought, maybe more." The gem was no more than a centimeter in diameter, but it was a start. He needed about 75g of the gemstone and a small nugget of silver for the ritual. Another few hours passed as Sypher moved along the bank of the river. With the sun setting he had also stumbled upon a few pieces of turquoise but little else. "Well, maybe its time to pack it in for the day. Julian!" Sypher yelled turning to see the Lemur napping on his backpack. Walking over and grabbing a stick he proceeded to poke at the Passimian. "Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey... Hey... Hey. Well that's not gonna work." He reached down to pull the pack out from under Julian's head, althought doing so made the Pokémon's head hit the ground with a thump.

Startled awake, Julian instinctively threw his berry in self defense. The loosed berry flew straight up cracking Sypher in the nose. After several expletives and a blood rag the duo headed towards the shrine at the base of the water fall hoping to hunker down at the trial leaders cabin. "Well I didn't find much today, how'd your practice go?" Sypher said looking down to Julian. The Lemur looked back as he walk giving a grin and a thumbs up. "That's great, I'm glad one of us had really good luck today." As the duo passed the shrine an idea popped into Sypher's head. Stopping he reached into his pack retrieving a piece of paper. On it he wrote a small prayer asking for luck. He rolled the paper up before leaving it on the shrine alongside the Aquamarine and Turquoise that he had found.

AshsBabyLapras: As the Munna panicked and struggled with the fat little branch, ABL tried to calm it down by offering to listen to its concern and help in any way she could. The Munna let out a deep breath and nodded, stamping on the grass next to the tree. Understanding the indication that Munna wanted her to sit down against the tree, ABL and Daffodil complied, resting their backs against the trunk. Now that they were ready, Munna inhaled deeply once again, and let out a soothing Yawn.

ABL was a little confused at first, but as the saying goes, yawns are contagious. She and Daffodil couldn’t help but yawning themselves afterwards, and soon enough, their eyelids got heavier and heavier. Before they could even react, they had dozed off, resting peacefully against the tree.

Looking around, ABL found herself in a dream-like state. Daffodil was there too, almost as if they were both sharing the same dream. In the next moment, Munna appeared next to them. She seemed to be concentrating hard, as the background and various objects seemed to swirl into existence. There was no doubt that Munna was controlling this dream, and the two of them were along for the ride to watch the scene play out.

In Munna’s dream sequence, ABL could spot a small blueish-gray creature lying on a tree branch. It had fluffy ears and a big black nose. The little creature was fast asleep, but it appeared to be in severe discomfort. Almost as if it were sleepwalking, the creature tossed and turned, reaching its arms out as if it were missing something very important to it. Continuing its sleepwalk, the creature climbed down from the tree and wandered off, until it was completely gone from the picture.

The dream continued, and it showed Munna looking for a log, similar to the one Daffodil tripped on. She tried pushing it along the grass, but then she found another log. And another, followed by two more after that. Soon enough there was a giant pile of logs, and the right one was in there like a needle in a haystack. Munna must be conflicted about which one was the right one.

With that, the dream came to an end much like a bubble’s existence ends with a pop. Munna ate the rest of the dream in order to wake the trainer and the Mareep up as they roused themselves to find Munna staring up at them with a worried apprehension in her eyes. Munna must be quite worried about her friend and is asking if ABL would be willing to help.

After the hike through the hills and the excitement that ensued, sitting down at the base of the tree feels good. ABL didn't think the trip had been all that strenuous thusfar, but a single Yawn from Munna has the trainer feeling overwhelmingly drowsy. Though she's still anxious to assist the unusual little Pokémon, her spot underneath the tree is so very comfortable, and just closing her eyes for a few minutes wouldn't hurt...

Suddenly ABL is awake and alert, but confused. This doesn't look quite like the Galea Plains, at least certainly not the spot she was just in. It feels familiar, yet different. Something's off... Then the truth hits her in the head like an apple falling from a tree. Of course, this is a dreamscape! This little Munna is using Psychic abilities! ABL feels silly for not having figured it out sooner. Munna is hovering nearby, but seems to be lost in focus and so the trainer determines it's better to let her be and see how the dream plays out.

Within her dream, the trainer can see a critter that she's never encountered before. It's new to ABL, but it has a wealth of charm to it. Enchanted, ABL tries to get closer for a better look, but the odd ball of fur seems to be struggling. So this must be the cause for Munna's concern. The cute creature continues its unhappy search, but ABL can't seem to approach it before it retreats into the distance. She wants to call out, to do something, but it's too late. The mysterious little being is gone.

All too quickly, ABL's confusion and grief are behind her, and she finds herself facing another scenario. Now, she can see Munna again, trying desperately to collect as many pieces of wood as it can. But this Pokémon is so small, and not built for this kind of physical labour. Is this what poor Munna has had to go through, all alone? No wonder it was in such an agitated state when its path crossed with the trainer and her Mareep. ABL starts to make her way over to help Munna move the logs and sort through them, but with a burst of light, the dream ends.

Coming to her senses, ABL finds herself still sitting beneath the same old tree. She looks at the trunk suspiciously, running her fingers over the bark to test its authenticity. She runs her fingers through her hair, still unsure, then finally squeezes some of the flesh on her forearm between her long fingernails. The resulting pain and its accompanying wince are very real, as are the marks left on her skin. At least relatively confident in her consciousness now, ABL looks into Munna's troubled face.

Location: Life and love make fools of us all. Gods reject the existence of love and life.

Posts: 1,590

Quote:

Originally Posted by morningstar

Raves:

The Garden was a regular spot for those looking to familiarize themselves with the area. Many trainers found themselves wandering through the tall hedges, admiring the view and almost constant good weather.

It's always strange to be among new friends for the first time. Although you know you have a lot in common, you are still getting used to each other. It was the same with Pokemon you recently started to use. You know they were happy to journey with you, but you weren't too familiar with each other's personalities, likes, and dislikes. The garden was often bustling with tourists, snapping pictures of the sculpted hedges, and it was hard to not have a good time whilst exploring it.

The Pokemon by your side seemed to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Garden as much as you did. Not to mention the smells. There was a distinct odor of roses, and both your Sandshrew and Nidorina had their noses in the air, taking it in. You noticed, strangely, that they were both fixated towards a particular direction. Even more strange, was the floating pink mist you observed. Almost like a cartoon, the mist wafted towards you and your Pokemon and filled your nose with its scent. Part of you felt drawn to this Aromatherapeutic scent.

However, there was plenty more to explore in the Rose Garden. You had taken note on your way in of several signs advertising the many species of roses the garden had to offer. A sign nearby boasted that the Garden's hedge maze was the "Largest in Fizzytopia", a statement you wondered was actually true or not.

The gardens indeed lived up to their name, with roses growing in bunches everywhere, their scent filling the air to calm the nerves of even the most timid of Wimpod. As Alex and the pair took the scent in, they noticed a more pronounced scent from one direction, and an unusual pink mist wafting towards them, flowing around them in a manner, and the aromatic smell reminded him of a technique he knew of where mostly grass pokemon would release a similar mist, capable of purging toxins, clearing dazed minds, loosening the muscles and soothing burns, restoring the health of those within.

On the other hand, there were the signs advertising the many roses within the garden, and one sign nearby caught his attention, boasting of a hedge maze, it claimed, was the largest in Fizzytopia. As he thought about this claim, he had a sudden chill down his back, as though it brought up a vacant memory, something about mirrors and spikes, and he shook his head.

"Sure, the maze could be fun for most...but I don't like mazes," he bluntly stated to the Sandshrew and Nidorina, of which the poison type was slowly wandering in the direction of the scent, while the shrew tugged at his leg.

"Well, might as well see what this smell is. I'm sure it'll either be a bug or plant, but I've heard stranger things," he responded as the three made for the source of the aroma, with curiosity in mind, given his vague knowledge of some fairies possessing similar properties.